... to think children should not be allowed in the main pool?

[littleemma1]

So, I have recently taken up swimming in the past couple of weeks (which I am really enjoying and finding I'm getting fitter already!) but I've noticed something that's really bugging me already... children being allowed to mess around in the main pool when it's full of people actually trying to swim.
Now I know the MN jury will most likely SLATE me for this as I will openly admit I do not have children yet (notice the YET, actively trying, that's a different thread!) so I probably come across as biased.
I hasten to add that there are 3 other children's pools at said swimming centre. Admittedly the biggest of the three is closed at the times I've been going for private swimming lessons but that's still leaves another 2!
So, why do the parents stand there letting their beloved children splash around, swimming right across other people's paths, and say/do nothing?! Surely they should have some consideration for other swimmers who are there to SWIM (yes swim, in a swimming pool) but it would seem not.
I honestly think the pool could/should bring in a policy for adults only in the main pool during peak times for example first thing in the morning (for the people who need to go to work, like me) or last thing in the evening when most children would be in bed?
There are other things that annoy me about pool etiquette like people who refuse to swim around you and think they have the almighty right to swim in a straight line, people who get in the pool and then don't swim, just standing at the sides, I could go on forever but I won't.

So, after that rant, AIBU?

Be careful what you wish for. Most pools with lanes require a high level of endurance - my local pool for instance requires people to swim a minimum of 20 laps without stopping. If you do stop then you get kicked out

I've swam in dozens of different pools around the UK - private and municipal - and have never encountered such a rule. It'd be rediculous.

I feel bad for others slating ppls swimming style, I did not grow up in a fun and loving home, we didn't get swimming. The first time I'd stepped into a pool I was 19. I did a couple of lessons after that but I'm mostly self taught I don't splash excessively but struggle to get any speed up due to not having a correct breathing technique. I do try to be courteous to other more adept swimmers though and move out their way or go at less sociable times. Be kind remember people have invisible disabilities that may also effect their ability, just breath if you are using a public pool you just have to accept this or plan better and go when there is lane closures for more active swimming. If that is an option obviously.

The post that slated other people's style was tongue-in-cheek/poking fun at self.

Is it just MN or all the British who are so het up about so many things? Such a cultural thing to talk about what annoys you. I can't be bothered to get that bothered about what other people do or don't do. Except if they whinge at me for silly stuff. And even that I'm learning to be amused at not upset by.

Joey me too! I'd be fascinated to see this in action - who is counting for instance?

YABU. Perhaps the children are in the main pool as they are too big for the smaller pool?
Have you thought that perhaps you have been swimming through the part of the pool they are swimming in? See, unless you have a bit of the pool laned off exclusively for swimming then they can go where they like. Would you make such a fuss if it was an adult doing this?
It's the school holidays so yes,more children might be out. Perhaps have a word with the Leisure Centre if it bothering you so much.

It's the school.holidays. Our local pool has changed its timetable to "general session" all day every day. Which is a pita as it means they are no longer running the toddler swimming for one hour a week.

I went to a different pool with a small children's pool, for an under 5's session. They had let a family with 3 children of around 8,9,10 in, who were bombing into the pool and generally doing what kids do. Which is fine, but not in the under 5's when I had my baby and 2 yr old there.

If you want to swim properly, go to a lanes session once school is back.

8am is pretty late for a before work swim in terms of when lanes might reasonably available. Most pools have lanes 6.30-7.30/8 as most people would be on their way to work by then so I understand why a pool might not have a lane at that time.

06:30-09:30 with us (I think; I'm more knowledgeable about evening times.) It is a lot quieter after 08:30, though, so in the past when I've been having a morning swimming phase, I could quite often get a lane to myself - which is a situation which the council unreasonably hasn't made compulsory for any

.....any time I want to swim. (Stupid phone.)

It does sound mostly like a pool management issue, if there are other pools available there, and it depends on the configuration. As has been pointed out, children do need the opportunity to swim in a full-sized pool, but people who want lane swimming also need that. In some pools, it's possible to offer both at the same time, but not in all.

Lane and swimming pool discipline is something which needs to be learnt. Parents should be teaching their children, but it doesn't happen overnight, and there are plenty of adult users who have no sense of being in the way, so it's a bit much to expect children to get it right every time.

Good lifeguards should be speaking to swimmers who are frequently obstructing others, but everyone does it once in a while, when you misjudge the timing. Also, we've got a new crop of lifeguards at the pool I use, and they're still learning their way. I spoke to one a couple of nights back, who was trying to clear the pool before an aquarobics class, and he was wondering to say, "ladies,"or "women" - I suggested, "please clear the pool!" It wasn't a dilemma I ever had on my long-past lifeguarding days, but I had my own difficulties.

But you need to talk to the pool managers. If they think things are working fine because they don't get any feedback, they're unlikely to change. If you have talked about it, and they say it's just tough, then you need to think about other pools you can use.

YAB a bit U.

I swim, and all the local pools here have adult only or lane swimming. If I go on my own I use those sessions. There are also some good pay as you go adult swimming lesson type things around.

I have a child who is a confident swimmer. If I take her swimming, generally the kids pool is full of toddlers and little ones playing. So she likes to have a go in the main pool too. She wants to practice diving, jumping in, swimming to the bottom, trying different strokes. She's at that inbetween stage where she wouldn't be up for swimming laps, but is beyond just playing in the kids pool.

If I take her in the main pool though, we stick to the non-lanes section. There have always been a few lanes available for serious swimming.

So I guess your pool is BU for not providing that, or else it's just a summer hols thing that will settle down again v soon.

You won't find any kids in the pool of an evening, generally. I think for people who work full time there is plenty of adult only time after 7/8pm. What time are you going that you're finding all these children in the way?

Also butterfly is never acceptable except in the very quietest of lane sessions or club training. (Though it will be a measure of my own fitness when I can manage a length of it again.)

People who do front crawl with awful technique so they splash more than necessary

That'll be people learning to swim front crawl then. It's not an easy technique, especially learning it as an adult, so I'm happy to cut these people slack.

Sometimes is it. Quite often it's men who insist on going in the fast lane and are trying to be fast, but actually have a very inefficient stroke. In those cases, I am not prepared to let them have some slack, but go past them.

I love swimming but never go to a public pool for this very reason. I've joined private gyms in the past, one in particular is very close by and reasonable but the pool etiquette is non existent. There are 2 lanes, then half the pool for general swimming but there is no lifeguard and mostly consists of dive bombing children whose parents are sat in the sauna/steam room. I'm not adverse to telling kids to stay out of the lanes unless they are actually swimming but it's not remotely enjoyable and I've let my membership go again.

We have 3/4 pools round us, all have dedicated sessions like "fun and floats", "inflatable", "public swim", "adult swim'. Seems to work well.

Everyone gets a go, anyone who doesn't want kids in the pool, go to the adult swim. Or the 6am/7pm sessions.

@JaneEyre70 that sounds unacceptable that there are no lifeguards with children in the pool - you should make a complaint to the manager and possibly the head office of whatever chain of gyms it is. My current gym does have sessions when there are no lifeguards, but it's strictly adults only at these times.

Don't get me started on lane etiquette though!

swimming pools are nasty places

Wow, I'm really surprised by some of the comments on this page. I'm with you - it really bugs me when kids are left unsupervised in a pool and go riot when you have also paid good money to enjoy the pool in a different way. Especially spa hotel pools! I've encountered this a few times when I was pregnant and swimming was the only exercise I could do - yet there were kids all over the adult pool so I wasn't able to actually do any swimming. It made me not want to go back. I am now a mother myself and the considerate thing for me (and any other well mannered parent) to do would be to supervise your kids in the pool and make sure they aren't in the way of leisure swimmers. Yes there is normally one lane for serious swimmers but if there are more than three people in one small lane then it's impossible to use. Yes it's school holidays but I don't see the problem with teaching children consideration for others but it seems other mums do... perhaps you should mention the issue to the management of the pool that they should put up signs advising parents that the adult pool is just that- for adults only? Hope it helps :-)

It's a main pool not an adults pool. Co aider at ion for others while wanting mothers to move there kids out of the way....

Are you able to join a gym? If you go regularly it works out cheaper, has better facilities and often open early til late. The gym I'm at only allows children from 2pm-7pm and even in that time there's lane swimming.

It's school holidays - get a life!

Thank you OP for this post. For some peculiar reason I'm tickled pink to the tips of my toes by it. I'm so looking forward to your post pregnancy coping with your own offspring in public threads.

Get up earlier or jog on. Honestly, FFS.

I agree, it is irritating and if you are swimming for fitness you need to be in a lane. Speak to the management and request this even if they only put in one lane. Incidentally, I don't think lanes need to be adult only. Young people need to swim for fitness too and if they have the ability should be encouraged. Our pool has slow, medium and fast lanes as well as a general swimming area. Life guards should be able to politely suggest swimmers use the most suitable area for everyone's enjoyment.

As you have just started maybe you would feel more comfortable in one of the other pools. Is it possible that one of them is more of a 'training' pool rather than a children's one?

I wish there were child free everythings from pubs to coffee shops to swimming pools. I'm on a spa retreat with my Mum and brats are teeming everywhere.

I like to swim and dislike people splashing near me. Simples. I go early in the morning and the only other people in the pool are swimming up and down in a Zen state. Changing room has space. No one is peeing in the pool and you can get to the hairdryer. Try it.